Acne is a skin condition that affects some 17 million people in the United States and millions more around the world. Many of us believe that acne is a condition that affects only teens, but in reality it also affects many adults. In fact, acne affects people aged 10 up to 40 and beyond, especially as the hormones in the body begin to change. Acne is characterized by symptoms including: clogged pores, the appearance of lesions that are commonly referred to as zits or pimples. The following may also be manifestations of acne; cysts, which is another name for pimples that are unusually deep, blackheads, whiteheads and pustules. The parts of the body most affected are those where the oil-producing sebaceous glands are prominent; the face, back and the chest area.

What are the primary causes for acne?

While there can be many causes of acne, the most common are bacteria, dead skin cells and overzealous sebaceous glands. During the teenage years, Androgens (male hormones that are present in both boys and girls) lead to overproduction of sebum, a body product that is meant to lubricate the skin. Excess sebums, aided by dead skin cells clog the pores. Bacteria, which live under the skin and are generally harmless, take that as a cue to multiply and in the process, cause inflammation to the surrounding cells and tissues. A pustule occurs when the inflammation is near the skin surface and a papule if it is deeper. A cyst is formed when the inflammation is even deeper. If sebum plus other elements already mentioned completely block the pore, you get a whitehead and a blackhead if the mixture becomes oxidized.

How can I control my acne Breakouts?

Sebum is a greasy substance, but avoiding greasy food will not help avoiding acne contrary to a widely held belief. But one should avoid foods which seem to trigger an acne outbreak. Here are some common raw foods to consider adding into your diet:

• Beets
• Cashews
• Almonds
• Foods that contain zinc
• Beans

All of these foods are simple to add into your daily diet and can be eaten as snacks or placed on top of a fresh salad. These raw foods are not only great for your skin, they will help to improve your overall level of health. In addition to these raw foods, consider drinking plenty of water and possibly adding wheat germ to your diet.

Lifestyle changes and habits are also important in the prevention of an acne breakout. Regular exercise can help to monitor the hormone level in your body as well as to cleanse your body system.

Some of the food that we eat may be grown in nutrient-deficient soils, and so may be of little nutritional value. It is important for you to choose fresh, organic if possible raw foods to retain as many of the valuable nutrients as possible. Occasionally, I may recommend that you use food supplements to make up for the deficiency. Each acne case however, should be treated on its own merit, and controlling acne may involve much more than eating well. Eating raw foods is a great habit to begin to improve your overall health.

To your health,